Divorced at fifty, I embarked on my path to success.

With He Qingmin directing from the sidelines, Mei Yusheng's family celebrated the New Year with a distinctly traditional feel.

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, Mei Yusheng was busy making all sorts of pasta dishes, including steamed buns, dumplings, fried dough sticks, and sugar buns. She also fried a lot of meat, lotus root slices, and meatballs, keeping herself extremely busy.

Qin Chu and Mei Yusheng were busy together, and Qin Chu complained quietly, "It's so much better to make these things fresh. If you make them in advance and then reheat them, they won't taste as good."

Mei Yusheng smiled helplessly: "When my dad was alive, the factory would give out pig heads for the New Year. We had to shave the pig hair, clean it, cut it into pieces, and then cook it. We also had to clean the house. This year we just moved in, and everything is new, so we were spared the hard work of cleaning."

Qin Chu laughed along: "I've almost forgotten what happened when I was a child, except that I could set off firecrackers."

Mei Yusheng glanced at Mei Zichen and Youyou in the courtyard, her eyes curving into crescents: "Look at them, with Youyou around, Mei Zichen has become a child again!"

Qin Chu's eyes lingered on them for a long time before he looked away, a pleased smile curving his handsome lips.

"We have a lot of people this year, so we're not afraid of making this much. We'll finish it quickly." Mei Yusheng had bits of dough twirling between her fingers. "Maybe after the fifth day of the new year, we'll have to make a new batch."

"Yes, Qin Zhan is also spending the New Year here this year. My cousin and his wife are going on a trip." Qin Chu held a yellow croaker in his hand and used a scaler to scrape off the scales. "They're living a carefree life. I invited Qin Zhan to spend the New Year here."

“Great, that will make it even more lively!” Mei Yusheng kneaded the dough. “Mei Zichen is probably going to drink too much again. You and Qin Zhan keep an eye on him.”

"It's alright, it's normal to drink more during the New Year." Qin Chu's deep eyes flashed, revealing a sly smile. "Once President Su is here, Brother Zichen will behave himself."

Mei Yusheng laughed out loud: "Right, how come I didn't think of that!"

Having outmaneuvered Mei Zichen, the two exchanged a knowing smile.

If it weren't for Ji Meiyun's incident, this year would have been perfect. Mei Yusheng hadn't been this happy in many years; even cooking felt enjoyable.

She woke up the dough, went to the living room, and asked if Zhou Xia was home.

He Qingmin sighed, "She went to work early this morning. This child, the day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and she still has to work."

Mei Yusheng remained silent. Originally, she had planned to take some time before the New Year to visit Ji Meiyun again with Zhou Xia and bring her some things. But it seemed Zhou Xia was going to work until New Year's Eve, and she wondered what she was thinking.

In fact, Zhou Xia was already on the bus to Qingtai Town at that moment.

The hot pot restaurant pays wages daily, and she took some time to buy her mother a new down jacket, new thermal pants, new shoes, and a thick scarf.

She took the day off early today and left home very early this morning.

She entered the detention center carrying the clothes, and upon seeing her mother, who looked even more haggard, she burst into tears before she could even speak.

Ji Meiyun looked at her with heartache, her voice choked with emotion, "Xiaxia, don't cry! Your crying makes Mom feel even worse..."

Zhou Xia quickly suppressed her grief, sat down, and examined Ji Meiyun's face: "Mom, is it cold inside? Are you not eating well? You've lost weight again."

Ji Meiyun forced a smile and said, "I haven't lost weight, and it's not cold inside. The conditions are very good. Actually, it's better inside than at my old home. At least I don't have to be on edge all the time."

Zhou Xia's eyes welled up with tears again: "Mom, I'm sorry, it's all because of me. I've been thinking about it so much lately, and I just can't let you..."

"Shh!" Ji Meiyun quickly covered Zhou Xia's mouth, her expression turning stern. "Xiaxia, don't talk nonsense!"

She glanced nervously outside and lowered her voice, saying, "My child, the greatest fortune is that my daughter and I have escaped that demon! The current situation is nothing to me. As long as I am no longer tormented by that demon, I can die in peace!"

"Mom!" Zhou Xia pressed the back of her hand against her trembling lips, her nails digging crescent-shaped marks into her skin, as if trying to choke back all the sobs in her throat. "I can't..."

"Xiaxia!" Ji Meiyun's voice was resolute. "My good child, you are my everything. If anything happens to you, I can't live! Remember, as long as you're doing well out there, I'll have hope to live!"

Zhou Xia blinked hard, her reddened eyelids almost drawing blood from her lips: "Yes, I know, Mom. I'll be fine, don't worry."

Ji Meiyun's tense nerves relaxed, and she lovingly stroked her daughter's face: "Forget everything in the past, and don't worry about me. As long as you are well, Mom is fine!"

Zhou Xia nodded, opened the package she had brought, took out the new clothes one by one, and handed them to Ji Meiyun: "Mom, these are clothes I bought for you with my salary. I didn't spend Aunt Mei's money. Try them on and see if they fit."

Ji Meiyun gently stroked the soft fabric of the down jacket, her eyes welling up with tears again: "You went out to work? That's good. You can't just eat and stay at your Aunt Mei's place for free. You must be sensible and observant, and help your Aunt Mei with housework more often."

“Yes, don’t worry, Mom,” Zhou Xia forced a smile. “Aunt Mei is very good to me, and everyone else in the family is very good to me. I just felt bored, so I went out to find a short-term job. I’ll quit after the New Year. Aunt Mei told me to plan my future carefully, and she supports me in continuing my studies.”

Ji Meiyun's eyes lit up: "Okay, Xiaxia, if you want to study, then go ahead and study. You can owe your Aunt Mei for now, and pay her back slowly when you graduate and find a good job."

She hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly, "Your Aunt Mei has had a hard life too. Her son is such an ingrate. He only cares about money and doesn't care about your Aunt Mei at all. From now on, you should treat her as if you have two mothers and be as filial to her as you would to your own mother."

Zhou Xia nodded emphatically: "Yes, I understand, Mom."

The clothes she bought all fit perfectly. Ji Meiyun put the clothes away and said, "Lawyer Qin comes over often. He said that the trial will not be held until after the New Year, and it will take another month or two after the verdict is handed down. He estimates that the sentence may be ten years."

She paused, a relieved smile spreading across her face. "Ten years from now, I'll only be in my early sixties, still young. Besides, even the toughest times will be better than the previous twenty-odd years. In there, at least I won't be beaten up every other day. If I behave well, I might get a reduced sentence, and maybe I'll be out before I'm sixty. Xiaxia,"

She held Zhou Xia's hand and gently stroked it: "Focus on your studies and don't worry about me. The hard times for us, mother and daughter, are over."

Zhou Xia lowered her eyes and remained silent, two hot tears falling onto Ji Meiyun's hand.

After being released from the detention center, Zhou Xia didn't want to go home, nor did she want to go back to the shop. She looked around in confusion, not knowing which direction to go.

Where is her home?

The phone rang suddenly. Zhou Xia saw Chen Qianqian's name, hesitated for a moment, and then answered.

"Xiaxia, are you at work? Let's come find you!" Chen Qianqian's enthusiastic voice unconsciously carried a sense of unbridled happiness.

Zhou Xia felt a pang in her heart and said coldly, "I'm not in the shop."

"Are you at home? We're on our way." Chen Qianqian, completely oblivious to Zhou Xia's emotions, continued, "My mom went ahead. Cheng Peng and I were thinking of picking you up to go with us. Wait at home, we'll be there soon."

Zhou Xia wanted to say that she wasn't home either, but before she could say anything, the phone was disconnected.

Some people are destined for happiness from birth, while others are destined for unhappiness.

People are not born equal.

Zhou Xia envied, even envied, Chen Qianqian. Although her father had an affair, it happened after she grew up. Throughout Chen Qianqian's childhood, she always had a loving father by her side. She probably could never imagine the pain and despair of her father's heavy slaps.

Physical pain can never compare to the pain in one's heart, and the lifeless despair is enough to destroy everything a child has.

Zhou Xia felt that she could never fit into Chen Qianqian's world; Chen Qianqian's enthusiasm and kindness would deeply hurt her.

She didn't want to accept it and wished Chen Qianqian would treat her like air.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand; it was icy cold and damp.